Platelet reactivity in vivo in dogs with arterial prostheses seeded with endothelial cells

Abstract

This study was designed to assess platelet activity in vivo with vascular prostheses seeded with endothelial cells to determine the time course for development of thromboresistance and to test the ability of prostheses to produce prostacyclin. Sixteen dogs were randomly allocated to receive seeded (experimental group) or unseeded (control group) velour Dacron aortic prostheses. Serial measurements of platelet survival were performed to assess platelet interaction with prostheses in vivo, and platelet serotonin was monitored as an index of platelet release in vivo. After placement of prostheses, dogs in the experimental group had rapid normalization of platelet survival, with most having normal platelet survival at 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. In contrast, most control animals had reduced platelet survival throughout the 12 week period of study. Significant differences between groups in mean platelet survival were noted at 8 weeks after surgery (p